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Off the back of Schindler and more
Schindler's west facing slopes © copyright TYB St Anton am Arlberg
If you like skiing steep and narrow couloirs lined either side by rocks then check out the chutes dropping down to your left immediately before and after the Schindlergratbahn top station. A robust wooden fence prevents accidental access to these couloirs and you can be sure there'll be quite an audience when experts climb the fence and perch somewhat perilously before jumping in and disappearing from site after just a few turns or quicker still if they were to fall. And in all but the very best fresh snow conditions when local ski instructors and ski bums will have got there before you in any event, it's moguls all the way
Schindler - South
The slopes beneath the Schindlergratbahn triple chair offer excellent deep snow possibilities on a powder day and can be accessed high up from behind the top lift station but you'll need an instructor or guide for safe route finding and to ensure a safe descent through rocky couloirs higher up and on avalanche prone south facing slopes. Easier access at lower level can be gained by skiing down on piste from Schindlergratbahn then not far from the top as you bear left towards Ulmer Hutte traverse skiers left off-piste quite some distance around the shoulder of Schindler then a short boot up and you can drop on to the slopes running down beneath the chairlift.
Galzig - Maienwassen
Easily accessed from below the Galzig cable car Maienwassen is truly world class on a powder day even when the visibility is low, as the trees are never far away to help with the contrast, but utmost care must be taken as left and right side of this descent are deep cutting valleys which can present extreme avalanche danger on fresh snow days.
Kapall - Schonegraben
Off the Kapall lift to the east of the resort is Schonegraben, meaning “Beautiful Grave”. This descent offers steep trees and open faces and the correct line must be chosen to remain safe from potential avalanche threats. Upon entering the area you must head for the trees and take care on the steeper slopes left of the forest line. From the top of Kapall looking towards Schonegraben is a very inviting bowl, this bowl must never be skied in it’s entirety as it ends in an ever increasingly convex form to end in a steep narrow gauge called the “The plug hole” which has claimed many avalanche deaths in the area over the years. To avoid this follow the high logical traverse to the right to gain the bottom of the drag lift to access the top of Kapall lift.
Sonnenkopf - Neningastal
Sonnenkopf is primarily a family resort that joined the Arlberg area some years ago. About thirty minutes by car or bus from St Anton Sonnenkopf is included in the main Arlberg lift pass and the ski area is similar in character to many a ski mountain in North America with it’s spaced out trees and bowl like skiing possibilities. However hidden over the back of the top lift is the very impressive Nesingastal off piste run offering 1,500m vertical of exciting steep lines, huge open faces in impressive scenery and to conclude the run there’s the obligatory steep exit line through a demanding and gullied steep section studded with bushes and leading to the Nesingastal. This spectacular adventure ends close to Langen to catch the train in time to get you back to St. Anton for a well earned après ski!
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Avalanche gear
Away from the marked runs, you depend on your friends and your equipment should anything go wrong.
Make sure you have the best gear, available from Facewest.
Make sure you have the best gear, available from Facewest.
Avalanche guide
Some passages in this section are extracted from Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper, Director of the Utah Avalanche Center.
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